US declares India-backed Baloch Liberation Army a terrorist group - Page Two
Pakistan’s reaction
The move to declare BLA as terrorist organization is seen here as “positive development” since Pakistan had long been calling for such a decision.
“We have taken note of the designation by the US Administration of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) as Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT),” said an official statement issued by the Foreign Office shortly after the US announcement.
It pointed out that the BLA has remained a proscribed entity in Pakistan since 2006 and in recent times has carried out several terrorist attacks in the country. “It is hoped that this designation will ensure that BLA’s space to operate is minimised,” the statement said.
“It is important that the perpetrators, organisers, financers and external sponsors including those glorifying these acts of terror against Pakistan are held accountable and brought to justice,” it added.
Defence analyst Lt-Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib termed the US designation of BLA as terrorist organisation as diplomatic victory for Pakistan. “BLA has been the proxy of RAW and it is certainly a setback for India,” Gen Shoaib commented while reacting to the US decision.
Shoaib also said the timing of this decision suggested that the Trump Administration wanted to send a positive message to Pakistan ahead of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming visit to Washington.
Washington’s announcement comes as Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to undertake his maiden trip to the US from July 20. He will have a face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Pakistan declared the BLA a terrorist organisation in 2006 after its involvement in a number of terrorist attacks, targeting both civilians and security personnel. The group was recently involved in a terrorist attack targeting a five-star hotel in the strategically important Gwadar Port.
Balochistan Liberation Army
The Balochistan Liberation Army (also Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA) is a militant organization based in Balochistan, a mountainous region of western Pakistan, according to Countering Violent Extremism Monitor of Stanford University. The Baloch Liberation Army became publicly known during the summer of 2000, after it claimed credit for a series of bombing attacks on Pakistani authorities. The group has an estimated strength of 10,000 members.
BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) was built around the core of BSO (Baloch Students Organization). BSO was a group of students in Quetta and some other cities of Balochistan. Misha and Sasha can be considered among the architects of the original BLA. The BLA remained active during the Russo-Afghan war and then it disappeared from the surface, mostly because its main source of funding – the Soviet Union – disappeared from the scene.
China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC)
Balochistan is crucial to the success of the China-Pakistan-Economic-Corridor (CPEC), but the restive province through which the initiative passes poses a stiff challenge to China as Baloch nationalists are up in arms against what they see as Beijing's designs to exploit the area.
A number of attacks in recent weeks against Chinese assets in Balochistan, which also is home to the Gwadar Port, have roiled Beijing.
Baloch nationalists, led by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have alleged that China is a so-called ‘partner in crime’ with Pakistan’s national government in "looting the natural resources of Balochistan,” said an expert who tracks Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Baloch rebels believe that China is militarily supporting Pakistan Army in its efforts to crush the Baloch insurgency.
China has been involved in projects in Balochistan even before CPEC was put in place.
China's state-owned China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) received a contract in the 1990s to extract gold and copper from the Saindak mine in Balochistan.
Baloch nationalists allege that such projects represent exploitation of the mineral resources of Balochistan.
The BLA is one of the oldest, and arguably the largest, of at least six nationalist groups fighting Islamabad for an independent Balochistan.
The BLA and other Baloch insurgent groups have conducted a series of attacks against Chinese interests since last year.
These attacks have significantly affected Chinese economic projects, most particularly by inhibiting the free movement of the Chinese people in the region, according to news reports published by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper
The Chinese are present in Gwadar, where they work under strict security protection. In Quetta, the Baloch capital, Chinese expatriates are unable to move freely, and must travel.
The attacks have also increased security costs at the CPEC. To protect Chinese personnel working on CPEC projects, Pakistan has raised a special security division of more than 15,000 personnel.
Abdus Sattar Ghazali is the Chief Editor of the Journal of America.
The Journal of America Team:
Editor in chief:
Abdus Sattar Ghazali
Senior Editor:
Prof. Arthur Scott
Special Correspondent
Maryam Turab
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